Fat Thursday

Categories:: Food & Beverage
Tags:: Christian Festivities Food
Where:: Poland
Date change rule:: Thursday before Ash Wednesday
Holiday emoji:: 🍩

Fat Thursday, also known as Tłusty Czwartek, arrives on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday each year. It’s a cherished tradition of indulgence, particularly with Polish pączki, before the solemn period of Lent begins. Gather your friends and family, find your favorite bakery, and prepare to feast on delicious fried dough.

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Expected Fat Thursday Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that bakeries and Polish delis nationwide will offer special deals on pączki and other traditional treats. Look for local establishments like New York’s Veselka or Chicago’s Delightful Pastries to have lines out the door. Grocery chains such as Kroger and Meijer often carry pączki in their bakeries, sometimes with buy-one-get-one offers. Keep an eye on local independent bakeries and donut shops for unique flavors and early bird specials. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February approaches.

Platform Guide for Fat Thursday

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #FatThursday. Share videos of pączki tastings, baking attempts, or your favorite indulgent treats.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #PaczkiDay. Post mouth-watering photos of your pączki haul, festive spreads, or creative dessert ideas.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #TlustyCzwartek. Share local bakery recommendations and engage with community discussions about traditional recipes.

Fat Thursday Hero

King Augustus III

While not directly inventing pączki, King Augustus III of Poland (reigned 1733-1763) is often associated with the popularization of French cuisine and pastries in Poland. This period saw the refinement of many Polish culinary traditions, including the evolution of pączki from a savory, hard dough to the sweet, fluffy delicacy known today. His reign marked a time of cultural exchange that influenced Polish gastronomy.

History of Fat Thursday

Though the exact origin of how this holiday came to be founded is unknown, the Polish tradition of consuming donuts is very much known, and dates as far back as the 1500s. On the religious side of things, Fat Thursday is the last hurrah before the fasting period of Lent, wherein devout Catholics give up many indulgences in the 40 days leading up to Easter. Traditionally, Catholics will not eat meat or consume alcohol during this period, as the idea is to give up things that one loves, in order to focus on the meaning of Easter.

Fat Thursday is known as ‘Tłusty Czwartek’ in Poland and for those who are in doubt, the ‘fat’ part of the name refers to the fried sugary goodness of the different types of ‘pączki’ (pronounced poonch-key) consumed by Poles all over the country. The most traditional form of ‘pączki’ is a light, fluffy donut filled with rosehip jam and dusted with powdered sugar. However, there are many variations now, when it comes to the filling. Essentially, this day serves a dual purpose, as it allows Poles to indulge guilt-free in their favorite confectionery, while also carrying a religious meaning. Some even refer to the day as International Polish Donut Day, and the average Pole will eat around 2-3 donuts on this day, which translates to about 1050 calories (if you’re counting, but we’re not)! If the thought of consuming so many donuts scares you, the recommendation is to eat at least one, because not eating a donut on this day means bad luck for the rest of the year, according to Polish tradition.

Another traditional Polish dessert that is extremely popular on this day is ‘faworki’, in some places, also known as Angel Wings. ‘Faworki’ are thin dough ribbons, fried until crispy and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Fat Thursday timeline

1800s

The Dutch Make the First Donut Prototype

The Dutch begin making “olykoeks,” which translate to oily cakes — cake balls fried in pig fat, often with uncooked centers.

1847

Donuts Become Hole-y

An American ship captain, Hansen Gregory, punches a hole in the dough cakes to help them cook evenly.

1920

The First Automated Donut Machine

Russian Jew, Adolph Levitt, creates the first automated donut machine.

1994

‘Pączki’ Gains Widespread Advertisement

In an attempt to make the association of ‘pączki’ to Fat Thursday inseparable, the National Pączki Committee launches several campaigns.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Fat Thursday

Local bakeries and donut shops can host pączki-eating contests or offer unique, limited-time flavors to draw customers. Restaurants might feature pączki-inspired desserts or special Fat Thursday menus. Coffee shops could pair pączki with specialty lattes. Retailers can promote kitchenware for home bakers or offer gift baskets with indulgent treats, encouraging customers to embrace the spirit of pre-Lent feasting.

Fat Thursday FAQs

When is Fat Thursday?

In 2027, Fat Thursday will be observed on Thursday, February 4. This early February date means an earlier start to the pre-Lenten feasting and celebrations.

How many pączki are eaten on Fat Thursday?

In cities with large Polish populations, such as Chicago and Detroit, bakeries prepare for massive demand, with some selling over 50,000 pączki each. The tradition encourages widespread indulgence.

Is Fat Thursday celebrated outside of Poland?

The tradition has also gained popularity beyond Polish communities, with many bakeries and grocery stores in North America offering pączki to a broader audience eager to participate in the pre-Lenten indulgence.

What is the difference between Fat Thursday and Mardi Gras?

While both holidays serve as a final celebration before Lent, Fat Thursday is specifically tied to the Thursday, emphasizing fried dough, whereas Mardi Gras is on Tuesday and encompasses a broader range of celebratory foods and carnival festivities.

Fat Thursday Activities

Find a Polish bakery
In the spirit of authenticity, find the nearest Polish-run bakery and prepare to stand in line as Fat Thursday dawns. In Poland, the bakery lines are so long that they can run around the block.
Try your hand at making ‘pączki’
If you feel up to the challenge, get your apron on and create your own pączki, with whatever variation of fillings you’d like. We do suggest you find a recipe from an authentic Polish baking blog though. If the challenge is too much, there are many simple donut recipes too; including baked donuts and ones without yeast.
Feast with the family
Though in America this is often celebrated as Fat Tuesday, break the norm, and prepare a feast for the family, with a Polish theme. We recommend a bit of reading up on other Polish delicacies and making the most of this day of feasting.

5 Fat Thursday Traditions From Around The World

Germany
Known as ‘Weiberfastnacht,’ or Silly Thursday, this celebration is in the true carnival spirit — businesses shut at 11:11 am and people dress up and take to the streets to frolic and eat.
Greece
Greek Fat Thursday is also known as ‘Tsiknopempti’ and carnivores can rejoice because it’s all about meat.
Spain
In Catalonia, it’s known as ‘Dijous Gra’s,’ and the carnival period is kick-started with dancing, live orchestras, and fatty street foods like ‘botifarra’ sausages and sweet cakes.
Italy
Known as ‘Giovedi Grasso’, it’s celebrated with masked balls, buffets, and revelry of every kind.
Iceland
Known as ‘Bulludagur,’ it roughly translates to ‘bun day’ and is celebrated on the Sunday and Monday before Lent — the specialty of the day is sweet cream buns, filled with jam and topped with chocolate.

Why We Love Fat Thursday

Sweet tooths everywhere rejoice
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Donuts are almost universally loved, in whatever shape or form they take, and to have an entire day dedicated to indulging one’s sweet tooth is good news indeed.
A celebration of food
Food, glorious food! We love to celebrate food holidays and there is nothing like food when it brings people together. So, let the feasting begin, wherever you are. And if donuts are not your thing, there are plenty of other treats to hit the spot.
Polish culture in the spotlight
Since Fat Thursday originated in Poland, it’s a great opportunity to learn about a different country. Be it the history, the culture, or the traditions — different cultures are always worth learning more about to foster respect and appreciation.